Method for determining a condition indicator of an apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method for determining a condition indicator of an apparatus includes providing an apparatus configured to measure at least two different technical parameters. A respective parameter value is determined for each of the at least two different technical parameters of the apparatus using at least one sensor configured to determine a respective parameter value for each of the at least two different technical parameters. A respective deviation value is determined for each of the parameter values with respect to an associated respective parameter reference value for each of the technical parameters. A respective deviation relevance value is determined from each of the deviation values using a respective parameter-specific deviation relevance function for each of the parameter values, the parameter-specific deviation relevance functions being different from each other. Using an indicator function, a condition indicator is calculated from the determined deviation relevance values. An overall condition of the apparatus is determined using the condition indicator.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/718,164,filed on Mar. 5, 2010. Application Ser. No. 12/718,164 claimed priorityto European Patent Application No. EP 09154512.9-1240, filed Mar. 6,2009. The entire disclosure of said application is incorporated byreference herein.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for determining a conditionindicator of an apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Apparatuses are used, for example, for a qualitative and quantitativedetermination of one or more analytes in water, such as in waste wateror drinking water. Apparatuses may be configured as so-called laboratoryapparatuses for individual measuring or as process apparatuses forquasi-continuous measuring.

Prior art apparatuses provide no or only insufficient information aboutthe technical condition of the analysis apparatus so that it is notreadily possible to judge the state of health of the analysis apparatusor the trustworthiness of the measured values supplied by the analysisapparatus.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus whichsupplies information on the overall condition of the analysis apparatusin the form of a condition indicator.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method fordetermining a condition indicator of an apparatus which includesproviding an apparatus configured to measure at least two differenttechnical parameters. A respective parameter value is determined foreach of the at least two different technical parameters of the apparatususing at least one sensor configured to determine a respective parametervalue for each of the at least two different technical parameters. Arespective deviation value is determined for each of the parametervalues with respect to an associated respective parameter referencevalue for each of the technical parameters. A respective deviationrelevance value is determined from each of the deviation values using arespective parameter-specific deviation relevance function for each ofthe parameter values, the parameter-specific deviation relevancefunctions being different from each other. Using an indicator function,a condition indicator is calculated from the determined deviationrelevance values. An overall condition of the apparatus is determinedusing the condition indicator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in greater detail below on the basisof embodiments and of the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an apparatus in which a method fordetermining a condition indicator is implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the method of the present invention, the following methodsteps are provided for the determination of a condition indicator of ananalysis apparatus:

determining one respective parameter value for at least two differenttechnical parameters of the apparatus;

determining a value of deviation of the parameter value with respect toan associated parameter reference value for all parameters,respectively;

determining one respective deviation relevance value from the deviationvalue using a parameter-specific deviation relevance function for allparameters, respectively, the functions being different from each other;and

calculating the condition indicator from all deviation relevance valuesdetermined using an indicator function.

First, corresponding parameter values are determined for severaltechnical parameters of the analysis apparatus, for example, an airhumidity value can be determined by an air humidity sensor in theanalysis apparatus, or a power consumption value of a photometricradiation source, a position value of a wiper, a counter value of awiper oscillation counter, etc. may be determined.

Thereafter, a relative or absolute deviation value can be determined foreach determined parameter value with respect to an associated parameterreference value. The reference value may, for example, be an ideal valuefor the respective parameter. The deviation value indicates an absoluteor relative deviation of the parameter value from the reference value.The deviation value itself does not give an immediate indication of thedegree of relevance of the deviation from the ideal value for thefunctionality of the analysis apparatus or for the quality of themeasured value.

After the deviation value has been determined for all relevantparameters, a deviation relevance value can be determined for eachparameter using a respective parameter-specific function. With at leasttwo parameters, the functions for each of these two parameters should bedifferent from each other. This function establishes a relation betweenthe deviation value and its relevance with respect to the functionalityof the analysis apparatus or to the quality of the measured values. Forexample, a slight deviation of the air humidity value from an idealvalue in a housing of the analysis apparatus can generate a deviationrelevance value of 1.0, whereas a substantially greater deviation maysuddenly result in a deviation relevance value of 0.3. The same can betrue for the power consumption of a brightness-controlled photometriclight source, for example, which will cause a dramatic change in thedeviation relevance value when a threshold is reached. With a wiper,which is to wipe a measuring window clean from residues before eachanalysis, for example, the blocking of only a single wiper oscillationmay result in an unchanged deviation relevance value of 1.0, forexample, if the attempted wiping can be successfully repeatedimmediately after the blocking. If a blocking also occurs at therepeated attempt, the deviation relevance value may, for example,decrease to 0.8. In the examples described, a deviation relevance valueof 1.0 characterizes an optimal condition and a value of 0.0characterizes a very poor condition.

Finally, an indicator function can be used to calculate a conditionindicator from the deviation relevance values of the relevantparameters, which indicator may, for example, be an apparatus conditionindicator or a measured value quality indicator. The indicator functionfor determining the apparatus condition indicator may differsubstantially with respect to the importance of the parameter “airhumidity” from the indicator function for determining the measured valuequality indicator. A high air humidity in the housing of the analysisapparatus may, for example, be important for the apparatus conditionindicator since it would hint at a leak in the housing, whereas it is ofonly minor importance for the measuring quality parameter since it hasno immediate influence on the reliability of a measured value.

Using the above described method, a condition indicator for the analysisapparatus can be generated that represents significant information abouta certain aspect of the measuring apparatus. The condition indicatorprovides even an untrained and inexperienced user with information on acertain aspect of the analysis apparatus without requiring a complexexpert's knowledge.

The indicator function can include, for example, a term for thearithmetic mean of a plurality of deviation relevance values. Forexample, the indicator function can include a term containing amultiplication of the smallest of all deviation relevance values by thearithmetic mean of all other deviation relevance values.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a parameter is determined bya reagent quantity sensor in a reservoir, a humidity sensor in theapparatus housing, a motor current sensor of a drive motor, a powersensor of a photometer light source, a wiper blade oscillation counter,a wiper blade blocking sensor, a wiper blade position sensor and/or adrive motor rotation counter.

In an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus10 is a process analysis apparatus designed as an immersion probe. Theanalysis apparatus 10 comprises a sensor unit 12 in which a plurality ofsensors S1, S2, S3 are arranged.

The sensor S1 is a humidity sensor in the housing of the sensor unit 12that measures the air humidity within the sensor unit housing which, inoperation, is immersed in water. If the air humidity within the housingexceeds a certain limit value, a leak in the housing can be assumedwhich, in the long run, could lead to substantial trouble and damage ofthe sensor unit 12 or the analysis apparatus 10. The air humiditydetermined by the humidity sensor thus is a parameter that issubstantially included in a statement on the condition of the apparatus.

The sensor S2 is a wiper position sensor that indicates the wiperposition of a wiper wiping the sensor window of the sensor unit 12. Thewiper position sensor may either determine the exact position of thewiper or the presence of the wiper at a certain position. Using thewiper position sensor, it can be determined whether the wiper isblocked, and the number of wiping oscillations can be counted incombination with a corresponding counter. Since the effective wiping ofthe measuring window by the wiper influences the quality of themeasurement result, information about a wiper blocking or the wear ofthe wiper are relevant for an overall statement on the measured valuequality.

The sensor S3 is a light source power sensor that indicates the electricpower requirement of a brightness-controlled photometer light source.Every light source, even a LED, ages due to operation. Age often showsin particular that, based on a constant light output, more electricpower is needed for an older light source than was required for thelight source when new. With the change in power requirement, the emittedspectrum of the light source may change as well whereby the measuredvalue quality can be impaired. The information supplied by the lightsource power sensor can thus be included in particular in the apparatuscondition, but may also be included in the measured value quantity.

Further sensors provided may include reagent quantity sensors detectingthe level of the respective reagents in corresponding reservoirs.Further, the drive motor of the wiper may be provided with a sensorcounting the number of rotations of the motor, thereby indirectlymeasuring the wear of the motor. A motor current sensor can provide moreinformation about the drive motor and/or the wiper. The motor currentsensor may also serve as a wiper blocking sensor with which the blockingof the wiper can be detected. Basically, information from any kind ofsensor of the analysis apparatus can be included in the determination ofa measured value quality indicator and/or a housing condition indicator.

The parameter values p_(S1), p_(S2), p_(S3) determined by the sensorsS₁, S₂, S₃ are supplied to a microprocessor 16 and compared with aparameter reference value in computing modules D₁, D₂, D₃. Thecomparison is effected by calculating the difference from the respectiveparameter reference value or by division by the respective parameterreference value. In this manner, a deviation value d_(S1), d_(S2),d_(S3) can be determined for each sensor S₁, S₂, S₃ or each parameter,which deviation value is supplied to a second stage of computingmodules.

In the example of an air humidity sensor supplying a relative airhumidity value, the reference value may, for example, be an ideal valueof 0% air humidity. Determining a deviation value may be effected bycalculating the difference or by division. The deviation value can, forexample, be determined from the quotient of the difference between theparameter value and the reference value as the numerator and thereference value as the denominator.

In the example of a wiper position sensor supplying information on wiperblockings, the reference value may, for example, be 4. The deviationvalue may then result from the number of the actual wiping cycles withrespect to the last 4 wiping cycle attempts and thus yield a valuebetween 4/4 and 0/4.

In the second computing modules 18, a deviation relevance value y_(S1),y_(S2), y_(S3) can be determined for each parameter from the deviationvalues d_(S1), d_(S2), d_(S3) using a parameter-specific deviationrelevance function f_(S1), f_(S2), f_(S3). Due to the deviationrelevance function, in particular small negligible deviations from anideal value or large deviations from a limit value can be rated ashaving very little relevance. Generally, the deviation relevancefunction is different for each parameter and may, for example, indicatethe deviation relevance value in a range from 0.1 to 1.0, where a valueof 1.0 indicates the ideal condition and 0.0 indicates a very poorcondition.

The condition indicator I is individualized in particular in thecomputing modules 18. If several different condition indicators I are tobe determined for the same analysis apparatus 10, the process before thecomputing modules 18 splits into two or more branches in which, inparticular, the respective deviation relevance functions f_(S1), f_(S2),f_(S3) differ from each other.

The indicator function f_(I) may, for example, be a polynomial in whichthe deviation relevance values are given factors of different sizes. Anapparatus condition indicator or a measured value quality indicator can,for example, be generated as a condition indicator. Whereas the airhumidity and the number of rotations of the motor, for example, arerelevant in the indicator function for the apparatus condition, they canbe ignored, in relative terms, in the indicator function for themeasured value quality.

The indicator function f_(I) can, for example, be a multiplication ofthe smallest deviation relevance value y_(S1), y_(S2), y_(S3) by thearithmetic mean of the other deviation relevance value y_(S1), y_(S2),y_(S3).

The condition indicator I can, therefore, be outputted to a display 14or to a computer for a further processing of the condition indicator I.If need be, the computer may effect corresponding measures in theanalysis apparatus if the condition indicator I exceeds a limit value.

The indicator function may, for example, take the following form:I=min f _(Si)×(Σf _(Si)−min f _(Si))/(max (i)−1)where f_(Si) is the respective deviation relevance functionf_(S1)-f_(S3).

A deviation relevance function f_(Si) may, for example, take thefollowing form:f _(Si)=(1−start)×(1−d _(Si))^(n)+startwhere d_(Si) is a deviation value d_(S1), d_(S2), d_(S3) and the values“start” and n determine the form of the curve.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated withreference to specific illustrative embodiments thereof, it is notintended that the present invention be limited to those illustrativeembodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations andmodifications can be made without departing from the true scope of thepresent invention as defined by the claims that follow. It is thereforeintended to include within the present invention all such variations andmodifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims andequivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus configured to measure at least twodifferent technical parameters, the apparatus comprising: at least onesensor configured to determine a respective parameter value for each ofthe at least two different technical parameters; and a conditionindicator configured to determine an overall condition of the apparatusby a method comprising: determining a respective parameter value foreach of at least two different technical parameters of the apparatus;determining a respective deviation value for each of the parametervalues with respect to an associated respective parameter referencevalue for each of the technical parameters; determining a respectivedeviation relevance value from each of the deviation values using arespective parameter-specific deviation relevance function for each ofthe parameter values, the parameter-specific deviation relevancefunctions being different from each other; and calculating, using anindicator function, the condition indicator for the apparatus from thedetermined deviation relevance values.
 2. The apparatus as recited inclaim 1, wherein the indicator function includes a term for anarithmetic mean of a plurality of the deviation relevance values.
 3. Theapparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the term includes amultiplication of the smallest of the deviation relevance values by anarithmetic mean of other of the deviation relevance values.
 4. Theapparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the condition indicator is anapparatus condition indicator.
 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1,wherein the condition indicator is a measured value quality indicator.6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is atleast one of a process analysis apparatus and a water analysisapparatus.
 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a first ofthe parameter values is determined by a humidity sensor.
 8. Theapparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a first of the parameter valuesis determined by a reagent quantity sensor.
 9. The apparatus as recitedin claim 1, wherein a first of the parameter values is the motor currentof a drive motor.
 10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein thedrive motor is configured to drive a wiper for wiping a measurementwindow.
 11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprisingsupplying the condition indicator to another apparatus component.